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Senate debate on HB 213 spotlights youth fishing exemptions and education concerns
Summary
Senators debated House Bill 213, which would allow group‑license fishing exemptions for youth in Department of Human Services and youth‑corrections programs so they can participate in supervised fishing trips. Sponsors said the change promotes constructive recreation; some senators pressed for amendments to require education about licensing and clarify applicability to private programs.
House Bill 213, sponsored in the House by Representative Johnson and floor‑sponsored in the Senate by Senator Blackcomb, would expand exemptions so youth who are placed in Department of Human Services programs or youth‑corrections facilities can participate in supervised fishing trips under a group license instead of obtaining individual licenses.
Senator Blackcomb told the chamber the bill “adds a couple of additional, exemptions for groups that do not have to get a ... fishing license in order to go out and fish,” and said the change is intended to make recreational outings available to youth who otherwise could not attend. He described the provision as creating a group‑license mechanism and said he would work with colleagues on clarifying amendments if needed.
Several senators questioned details and raised concerns on the record. Senator Rutter asked whether privately run programs such as the Utah Boys Ranch would be covered; Senator Blackcomb said those programs likely would not be included unless they fell under direct supervision of Human Services or youth corrections and offered to work on an amendment. Senator Swazo asked whether the group license would allow youth to catch the same limits that apply to licensed adults; the sponsor said the group-license would follow the same limit provisions as individual licenses but offered to confirm with the division and return with clarification the next day.
Senator Valentine expressed broader concerns about expanding the exemption beyond narrowly defined groups and the absence of a statutory requirement that the programs provide education to youth so they understand they must obtain licenses once no longer in the program. Blackcomb and other senators said that reasonable programmatic education could be added through an amendment and invited Senator Valentine to prepare language.
The floor debate ended with senators encouraging additional amendments to address assurances on education and applicability; the bill was read for third time and placed on the calendar for further consideration.
The debate records show sponsors supporting the bill as a rehabilitative and recreational opportunity, while several senators requested amendment language to require or clarify post‑program licensing education and to define which programs are eligible.
